Preliminary Experiment Using Sensors for Cow Health Monitoring after Surgical Treatment for the Left Displacement of the Abomasum

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of two surgical techniques regarding cow respiratory rates, heart rates, and rumination time using two sensors: an experimental device created by the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) and the Hi-Tag rumination monitoring system (SCR) produced by SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel. The cows were divided into two groups: the PA1 group, containing cows treated by percutaneous abomasopexy (n = 10), and the RSO2 group, containing cows treated by right side omentopexy (n = 8). For the control group (KH), according to the principle of analogs (number of lactations, breed, and days in milk), we selected clinically healthy cows (n = 9). After the surgical treatment for the abomasal displacement, the experimental device was applied for the recording of the heart and breathing rates, 12 h tracking of the rumination time was implemented using the SCR, and the body temperature was measured. After 12 h, the blood was taken for biochemical and morphological tests. With the help of experimental sensors, we found that the more efficient abomasal displacement surgical method was the right side omentopexy: During the first 12 h after right side omentopexy, we found a 5.19 beats/min lower (1.10 times lower) average value of the respiratory rate, a 1.13 times higher level of the heart rate, a 0.15 °C higher temperature, and a 3.29 times lower rumination time compared to the clinically healthy cows. During the first 12 h after percutaneous abomasopexy, we found a 5.19 beats/min higher (1.07 times) average value of heart rate, a 0.02 °C higher temperature, a 6.21 times lower rumination time, and a 0.12 beats/min lower (1.01 times lower) average value of respiratory rate compared to the clinically healthy cows.